Next Week

The special Baseball Issue presents for the seventh successive year a report from the spring training camps on the strengths and weaknesses of the 16—no, 18 now—major league teams. George Plimpton, one of the editors of the Paris Review, tells exactly what it is like (not much like Walter Mitty) actually to pitch against Willie Mays, Richie Ashburn and an entire team of major league All-Stars. Plus a story on the Chicago Cubs' experiment with no manager this year, and a 12-page picture essay on the strange grace and excitement of big league ball.